Dodge drivers look to gain in Chase standings

Posted on Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at 2:24 PM EDT.

With only six races left in the “Race To The Chase” in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, all eyes will be on triangular-shaped Pocono Raceway, a 2.5-mile track with three distinctly different turns, for this weekend’s Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 in Long Pond, Pa.

The 21st of 36 point races that make up the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR’s top-12 drivers look to hold serve in the standings as they position themselves for the championship and the Sprint Cup in the final 10 races of the season.

Kurt Bush (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger) remains fourth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings. The 2004 series champion has not been outside the top five in driver points since Las Vegas (March 1) and since his win at Atlanta Motor Speedway last March, Busch has been inside the top five for 16 consecutive races. Despite the impressive consistency all season, Busch isn’t getting caught up in all the Chase hype just yet.

“Our Miller Lite Penske Dodge team is sort of caught up in the middle heading into Pocono this weekend,” said Busch, whose career Pocono record boasts two wins and seven top-five finishes in 17 races. “A lot of things can happen in these next six races leading into the Chase. Unlike those guys at the top of standings (points leader Tony Stewart has a 693point “cushion” over 13th, while second—place Jimmie Johnson has a 501—point lead and third—place Jeff Gordon enjoys a 486—point advantage), we can’t afford to throw caution to the wind just yet and we have to be in a conservative mode definitely for the next couple of races.”

Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge Charger) may be the hottest driver in the Cup garage. Since the LifeLock.com 400 at Michigan five races ago, Kahne has surged seven positions in the NSCS driver standings. In doing so, Kahne has recorded one win (Infineon) and four top-10s to move into eighth position in the standings. And if there is one track that Kahne knows how to get around, it certainly is Pocono Raceway.
In nine career starts at Pocono, Kahne has one win, two top-five and four top-10 finishes in 10 Pocono starts. He also holds the track qualifying record of 172.533 mph (52.164 sec.), set in June, 2004.

“I feel like we have as good a shot to win as anybody out here,” Kahne said. “I think we have a great car, great team. We’ve been running really well and have had some great races, some tough races. I think Pocono is one of our better tracks this year and think that we have a shot at making the Chase. That’s the main goal—that’s what all the teams want to do for their sponsors and owners and the employees that work on these cars. Out of the 14 of 15 (drivers) going for the Chase, I think that we have as a good a shot at winning as from sixth on back.”

Seven Dodge teams are entered in the Sunoco Red Cross 500 seeking to give Dodge its 204th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. All seven drivers are assured berths as they sit inside the top 35 in car owner points. Dodge has earned six wins at Pocono Raceway,

Other notes

• Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Stanley Dodge) has not had a DNF (did not finish) in 21 consecutive races at Pocono, the longest current streak among active Sprint Cup drivers.

• Sam Hornish Jr. (No. 77 PPG Dodge) earned his third top-10 of the 2009 season with a 10th-place finish at Pocono in June.

• Reed Sorenson (No. 43 Valvoline Dodge Charger) has improved 275 points from this time last season. Sorenson finished 20th at Pocono in June—a career best at the 2.5-mile track.

Driver standings:
Position, driver (points lead over 13th position)
1. Tony Stewart, 3,054 (693)
2. Jimmie Johnson, 2,862 (501)
3. Jeff Gordon, 2,847 (486)
4. Kurt Busch, 2,608 ( 247)
5. Carl Edwards, 2,556 (195)
6. Denny Hamlin, 2,518 (157)
7. Ryan Newman, 2,506 (145)
8. Kasey Kahne, 2,482 (121)
9. Mark Martin, 2,471 (110)
10. Juan Pablo Montoya, 2,461 (100)
11. Greg Biffle, 2,445 (84)
12. Matt Kenseth, 2,429 (68)

What you need to know:
The race:Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500
The place: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
The date: Sunday, August 2
The time: 2 p.m. (ET)
The track: 2.5-mile triangle
The distance: 500 miles/200 laps
Television: ESPN, 2 p.m. (EDT)

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at 2:24 PM EDT and is filed under Company, Dodge, Motorsports. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Comments are currently closed.